TSMMT Ch 100

A Present

[Guiscard] "Ann."

Dianna turned around at the sound of her name. Guiscard walked toward her. She lowered her gaze, avoiding eye contact.

[Dianna] "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Had travel fatigue completely vanished?

Glancing subtly, his hair, once long enough to veil his eyes, was neatly trimmed, and his face appeared clean. Strangely, he looked different somehow.

[Dianna] "Are you holding a banquet today?"

The unexpected question brought a subtle shift to his face.

[Guiscard] "If such an event were occurring, I would have told you beforehand."

I see…… Huh? What does that mean?

Did he expect her to attend as a matter of course? Or was he acknowledging the Queen's right to host banquets?

As she moved to pass him, he spoke.

[Guiscard] "Let us talk."

[Dianna] "Talk about what?"

Her voice sounded cold even to her own ears. Guiscard stared fixedly into her eyes. Meeting his intense gaze, she spoke listlessly.

[Dianna] "If Your Majesty wishes, I shall gladly do so."

[Guiscard] "It seems the Queen doesn't particularly wish to."

Dianna offered no response. Since he instructed her to live meekly like a slave anyway, if he commanded her to speak, she would speak; if he commanded her to hold her tongue, she would hold her tongue.

With Saruvia and Leonie standing behind her, Dianna suppressed the urge to offer a sarcastic retort.

[Dianna] "Do you have something to say?"

Guiscard gestured a refusal. His purple eyes were eager to convey something, yet Dianna turned her gaze away. If he had nothing to say, she would take her leave.

She possessed no desire to look at his face. His words about putting a leash on her still echoed in her ears.

As she walked past him, Leonie's quiet curse reached her ears.

[Leonie] "That man is absolute trash."

[Saruvia] "Regardless, saying such things about His Majesty is an overstep……"

When Dianna looked back to offer a quiet caution, a scene unfolded behind her: Saruvia and Guiscard. She smiled brightly while speaking, and Guiscard listened attentively, offering replies.

[Leonie] "Doing that nonsense again already?"

[Dianna] "Lady Kragel."

[Leonie] "Yes, yes, I know our sweet Queen won't say a word. I still don't understand why you keep that creature around, though I know you'll keep letting her stay."

[Dianna] "Because His Majesty assigned her to me."

[Leonie] "Then speak to His Majesty and cast her out."

[Dianna] "……"

[Leonie] "Ah, fine, I understand."

As Dianna remained silent, Leonie pouted.

Watching their interaction sparked a wave of revulsion. Had they conversed and grown close in that exact manner in her past life as well? Placing a slave in the role of a wife.

In an instant, his gaze shifted toward Dianna. Deep disgust rushed over her. She completely severed her interest and returned to her bedchamber.

---

Afterward, Guiscard lingered near Dianna several times. Yet, conversation between them made no progress.

She observed Saruvia conversing with him on a few occasions, and after that, she refused to offer him even a glance.

Dianna remained busy as well. Following the defeat of the gargoyle swarm, invitations arrived for her. In a rare development for Lodbrog, invitations to social banquets were included.

However, Dianna declined every invitation, citing her injuries. Though this public interest would fade eventually, drafting plausible rejections constituted work in itself.

I think it was better before he returned.

She could act as she pleased without caring about anything. Revius posed an annoyance, but that was the extent of it.

In truth, she had waited for Guiscard, if only ever so slightly. Ever so slightly, for that man who sent not a single letter, not a shred of news.

---

It was entirely in vain. Document reading brought on a headache, prompting Dianna to take a solitary walk, where a warm spring breeze greeted her before she realized it.

Unconsciously, she evaluated the garden's appearance.

Following her instructions, the garden had transformed into a refined landscape. Pruned trees stood orderly, and wild bushes were neatly trimmed. Flowers would bloom with the approaching spring. While greenery alone possessed charm, adding colorful variations would look lovely.

Though she had not redesigned every corner, these results stemmed from her own efforts. Beholding the sight, naturally lifted her spirits.

In her past life, she had done nothing. Thus, she could never adapt to this unfamiliar royal palace.

Still, things like this are nice.

Creations born of her own hands could never feel alien. Right then, Revius appeared suddenly.

[Revius] "Your Majesty!"

[Dianna] "……"

[Revius] "You look exceptionally radiant today."

Is he insane?

Dianna observed Revius showering her with flattery. Despite her disgust-laden expression, he smirked, offering praise with an air of mock reverence.

[Revius] "Why wear such a look? Ah, walking through this garden created by Your Majesty, I catch your scent. It is quite wonderful."

Is this man an actual lunatic?

As she stepped back, he approached with a chuckle. Crouching down, he touched a sprout rising from the flowerbed with extreme care.

[Revius] "His Majesty is quite heartless, isn't he? I nearly died as well."

[Dianna] "……"

[Revius] "To him, Your Majesty is someone who must be guarded and protected. Like this delicate sprout."

She looked at the sprout Revius touched. A tiny, fragile thing.

[Dianna] "If you intend to mediate between His Majesty and me, I decline."

[Revius] "……"

This man hated her. He likely harbored little affection for her even now. Yet discord between the King and Queen harmed the realm, prompting his attempt at mediation.

[Dianna] "Did the Prime Minister not prefer a queen from an influential house, specifically the House of Duke Levian, rather than me?"

He chuckled softly.

[Revius] "That is correct. In truth, I still entertain such thoughts."

[Dianna] "……"

[Revius] "Even so, I don't believe His Majesty's judgment was mistaken."

Dianna remained silent. What was the meaning behind this acknowledging statement? Was it designed to lower her guard?

Observing her expression, Revius wore a subtle smile.

[Revius] "Perhaps because of his unresolved burdens, do you know His Majesty has turned into absolute garbage?"

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

[Revius] "Even the Vargrhati knights shook their heads at his conduct. His Majesty made a grave error."

[Dianna] "……"

[Revius] "He naturally prefers harsh speech. He has not grown mature enough to consider others' feelings and speak gently."

[Dianna] "……"

[Revius] "So if Your Majesty as well……"

[Dianna] "He commanded me to live meekly like a slave. Am I supposed to forgive that?"

Revius widened his eyes at her words. His expression conveyed sheer disbelief, yet Dianna offered no further explanation.

Grasping her meaning, he clutched his head in both hands.

[Revius] "No matter the circumstances, uttering words that trample a lovely sprout……"

[Dianna] "……"

[Revius] "Wow, there is absolutely no fixing this. Very well, I understand. I shall make him beg on his hands and knees."

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

Revius stood up and scrambled off in a hurry.

Dianna expected Revius to demand she live like a slave or persuade her to understand Guiscard, yet his surprisingly sensible reaction filled her with an odd emotion.

Why is he taking my side?

A man who had hated and despised her so intensely……

This place was exceedingly strange.

---

Saruvia acted like a fish in water. With Dianna's demeanor turning passive, her resurgence was natural.

Leonie complained on several occasions, yet Dianna observed her with apathy.

A deep sense of helplessness dominated Dianna once more. Retaining her authority over the budget stemmed purely from having no other tasks.

She fell silent again, sinking back into lethargy. However, she overlooked a tiny detail.

Appearing weak from the start, thus inspiring no vigilance and avoiding attacks, differed entirely from revealing skill and becoming a target of hostility. Becoming a target of hostility meant facing immediate attacks.

[Saruvia] "Your Majesty! I have a gift for you."

On a spring day, Saruvia spoke with a bright smile. Clad in a crimson gown resembling a wild rose, she appeared particularly striking and beautiful today.

An ominous foreboding flared within Dianna.

When Saruvia clapped her hands, the doors swung open. Until that moment, she wondered what the gift could possibly be.

[Mirva] "M-My Lady!"

The moment the voice echoed, time stopped. Dianna stared blankly at the figure before her.

You are already in the grip of fate.

The divine voice heard long ago echoed in her mind. In an instant, a cold, harsh truth dominated her thoughts.

[Mirva] "My Lady."

A haggard old woman grasped her hands, tears streaming down her face. Impossible. Time had passed, and besides…… this person had no reason to be here.

When Emil is still alive?

[Dianna] "Mirva……"

[Mirva] "Ah, My Lady. I missed you, My Lady!"

The old woman embraced her. Dianna turned her gaze toward Saruvia.

---

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